Ywca Honors Lifelong Volunteer, Kicks Off Campaign

ABOUT THE COUNTY: BETHLEHEM

October 26, 1997|by TINA BRADFORD, The Morning Call

Last week, the calender was brimming with activity for members and supporters of the YWCA of Bethlehem.

Amid the hubbub was a tree-planting ceremony, an exchange of violence-associated playthings for new toys, the announcement of a new capital campaign, volunteer painting of offices and the annual dinner meeting during which Mary Fabricious was named outstanding volunteer.

Busy, yes, but the 83-year-old Fabricious glowed like the Star of Bethlehem when lauded at the dinner Tuesday at the Holiday Inn of Bethlehem.

More than 100 guests honored the veteran volunteer, who has served the YWCA since 1940. She was presented a crystal Star of Bethlehem by executive director Andria Bilan. Pam Pillsbury of Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley was guest speaker.

Fabricious' laurels are numerous. She was a founding member of the matrons club and served as a Y Teens committee member, Hanging of the Greens organizer, fund-raiser and bus-trip coordinator. Fabricious is serving as a member of the board of directors through 1998. She also is a volunteer for the Bethlehem's Women's Club.

Her son and grandson traveled from New Jersey for the awards dinner.

The YWCA thanks Bethlehem Steel Corp. employees who served as United Way Day of Caring volunteers on Oct. 17. The group painted the YWCA's new capital campaign offices at the Westgate Professional Center, 1475 Roselawn Drive.

Last Sunday, Week without Violence was launched under cool fall skies with a tree-planting ceremony on the grassy knoll south of the Bethlehem City Center. A moment of silence was observed in memory of local victims of violent crimes.

Throughout the week, the fourth annual violent toy exchange was a smashing success. Toys ranging from super soakers (giant water guns) to Power Rangers and Goosebumps items were collected at four locations throughout the city in exchange for free educational items from Discovery Toys.

"Fall is traditionally a busy time for the Y. But as a new twist, we planned a particularly heavy week this year," said Bilan, noting that the capital campaign will kick off in January to raise funds for relocating the Y's highly successful Adult Day Care program.

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Supporters of ANA Inc. are ecstatic with the turnout of the non-profit educational group's first dinner gala, an event that drew 65 guests to the Holiday Inn of Bethlehem and raised $2,000.

Carol Ritter, ANA Inc.'s president, and Laurel Mikovitz, executive director, attended, as did myriad educators from Salisbury and Palisades school districts; Intermediate Unit 21; Easton, East Stroudsburg and Northampton school districts, and Northampton Community College. Saucon Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Ralph Tarola served as emcee.

Special guest speaker was Bob Martin of Rodale Press, who accepted the Child Advocacy Award on behalf of Ardath Rodale. Martin had been a newspaper reporter who covered the Ryan White story. White, a hemophiliac, contracted the HIV virus from donated blood and subsequently died. Ritter, who had met the boy's mother, Jeanne White, in the early '90s at an educational seminar, was inspired to found ANA Inc. after the experience.

The evening included a silent auction and entertainment by the lively musical comedy group The Oxy-Morons. Maggie Barchine, a member of the Oxy-Morons and Musikfest's director of public relations, gave a hilarious portrayal of Lucy Arnez from "I Love Lucy."

Next year, ANA Inc. will hold its second annual gala benefit Nov. 6 at the Holiday Inn of Bethlehem.

Information for this column can be mailed to Tina Bradford, c/o The Morning Call, 515 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA. 18018.